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Feasibility Study Launched for Solar Project on Agri Land

By Shamila Janakiraman

TMCnet Contributor

The rising temperatures, pollution, destruction to natural resources and even natural disasters are attributed to increased industrialization, which depends on non-renewable sources of energy such as coal, petroleum and so on.

Many organizations and governments are actively looking into alternate sources of energy like solar power, wind energy and tidal energy which are not only renewable and in abundant supply but also clean.

Kyocera (News - Alert), Kyudenko, ORIX, and Mizuho Bank have entered into an agreement to test if operating a 430-megawatt (MW) solar power project is possible on the island of Ukujima, located in the Nagasaki Prefecture of Japan.

If feasible, this project will be the biggest project to be implemented on agricultural land. Photovolt Development Partners has been conducting studies for this solar power project which will ensure environmental protection and economic revitalization in the island. Under the project about 6.3 million square meters of land, covering almost 25 percent of the island will be used.

Kyocera multi-crystalline silicon solar modules will be used to develop a 430MW system that can generate about 500,000MWh per year of electricity that can feed about 138,800 typical households. This will offset about 252,200 tons of carbon dioxide every year. If an undersea cable of 60-kilometers is laid between Ukujima and the island of Kyushu, power can be supplied to the local utility company, Kyushu Electric Power.

For procuring the land for the project, agricultural land or deserted arable land on the island will be leased from respective owners. This will be followed by the construction and operation of the solar power systems which will constitute of solar modules erected on stilts. This allows the land to be used for agriculture as well. Livestock farmers will be encouraged to grow oat grass and other pasture grasses which will help the traditional industry also, besides assisting the power generation business.

This business model combines the development of local agricultural business and promotes an eco-friendly method of power generation using solar power. Kyocera Group has agreed to supply all the solar modules and along with Kyudenko, will take care of the construction, maintenance and management of the solar power systems.

Mizuho Bank will coordinate the projects’ financing, with Kyocera, Kyudenko, ORIX making capital investments into the project. The companies will work in collaboration with the Nagasaki prefectural government, the city of Sasebo and other authorities to design the most suitable business model keeping in mind the environment while selecting the sites and constructing the solar power systems.